Flash Foxy Climbing Festival

We hosted 12 clinics, 8 workshops, 9 guest speakers, 2 stewardship projects and a dance party! We watched 6 film screenings, a cultural dance performance, a panel and a community slideshow. We learned from 27 guides, athletes and facilitators. We collaborated with 19 community partners including conservation organizations, affinity groups, land managers and the local Indigenous tribe and had more than 25 vendor booths at our Open Air Market to explore.

At our Friday/Saturday raffle, we raised $2,735 which is split equally between local stewardship partner, Friends of the Inyo, the Access Fund and the Bishop Paiute Tribe. As a continued acknowledgement that our events take place on and benefit from native lands, we also donate $5 from every ticket sale to the Bishop Paiute Tribe. This is an additional $1,250 on top of the money raised by raffle ticket sales. At a separate raffle on Sunday evening we raised $856 which is split equally between the Bishop Area Climbers Coalition and Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps. We also were able to raise $1,075 for the Flash Foxy Scholarship Fund through “Superhuman” ticket sales. These funds will allow us to continue providing free tickets and travel stipends to future events as well as our Educational courses.

We partnered closely with 26 local small businesses and organizations and the Bishop Chamber of Commerce. This includes but is not limited to local gear stores, coffee shops, breweries, printing studios, guide company, lodging, non-profits, local tribe and more. The local community in Bishop has been so supportive of us, especially with our last minute changes, and we feel incredibly grateful to have so many awesome local partners willing to help us pivot, offer us space and cheer us on as we work together to create a more welcoming and inclusive climbing community in Bishop!

At our Sunday Stewardship Project we had over 50 volunteers work on two projects at the Bishop Paiute Conservation Open Space Area (COSA) and attend a discussion group with the local BLM office. At the COSA we built a culvert to help divert flooding from recent storms and took down an old barbed wire fence! We’re super grateful for our badass stewardship partners - Friends of the Inyo, Access Fund, Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps, Bishop Area Climbers Coalition, Bishop Area Climbing Rangers, USFS and BLM.

“‘Is anyone sitting in this seat?’ ‘You are!’ - The number of times I heard these exact words among people this past weekend @heyflashfoxy festival made them really stick out. Time after time I keep coming back to this community and its gatherings because of the way it makes me feel to be part of it — maybe even more so as a guide than as a participant at my first fest a few years back. There is ferocity here, and also tenderness. These things can co-exist for sure, bbs.” - @dnlljnsn (guide)

“This was my 2nd year attending @heyflashfoxy! Just love this event and community! Great to see old and new friends and even a few friends from Banff and Hawaii!! Last year, I gave a presentation and showed the film “Elevated” for the 1st time to the wonderful FF community! This year we were invited to attend as a community partner and attendee! I was able to bring 2 other Deaf friends!! My friends and I participated in clinics that were indoors and we had access!! We learned so much and met so many wonderful people!!! This is what it looks like to have quality access and inclusion at a festival! I am so grateful for the support and folks working with me to create a better space and outdoor community!! We are breaking barriers together!!” - @deafclimber (participant)

“However, as I departed on Friday, driving from Reno to Bishop, I was overcome with a deep sense of joy and gratitude. I realized just how much I needed a change of scenery from my familiar surroundings, even if only for a short while. Singing my heart out in the car, tears of happiness filled my eyes as I savored the feeling of freedom and adventure that comes with exploring new places. Thank you @merylpicard, @urban_ndn_ @bennettrahn @heyflashfoxy @shelmatic for welcoming me into your community and to share my passion with other Indigenous folks. Reunited with my fellow native sister/brothers is what the soul needed!” - @cass.am (athlete)

“Intro to Big Wall clinic at @heyflashfoxy climbing festival with guides @neodude and @carlin.trustme . Weather shutdowns didn’t prevent us from learning. Thanks to our guides for an adaptive and fun class! I really enjoyed the festival, and I am looking forward to next year.” - @natiendo (participant)

“Had the loveliest time at the @heyflashfoxy Climbing Festival in Payahuunadü (Bishop, CA). A huge thank you to Shelma, Lou, Marian and all of the instructors and facilitators for their leadership as Mother Nature redirected various aspects of the programming. The entire weekend was anchored in creating community, increasing our knowledge of stewardship, and supporting local small businesses and organizations. But, above all, it was about educating ourselves about the Paiute and Shoshone native communities who have lived in Payahuunadu for centuries.” - @_yourhealingnature (partner)

“For me the festival is about connection, community, and growth. Reconnecting with friends, making new ones, sharing any knowledge I have with others within the community, and learning more about myself and how to help grow our community and industry into a more welcoming space - there’s so much that goes into this festival. And even though the weather kept us from climbing, it was a good reminder to listen and respect the land. Plus there was soooo much more going on and that I got from the festival, climbing would’ve just been extra.” - @walkergenevive (athlete)

“We are very grateful that the organizers of Flash Foxy decided to go ahead with the festival. It definitely helps the local businesses and also gives people something fun to do downtown that’s climbing related, but does not send them out to the areas that have been impacted by flooding, rockslides, etc. It actually helps keep our emergency personnel from having to rescue stranded climbers.” - Tawni Thompson, Executive Director of the Bishop Chamber of Commerce